The Tragical History of Hamlet

Introduction of the play

The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601. The play, set in the Kingdom of Denmark, recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius for murdering the old King Hamlet(Claudius's brother and Prince Hamlet's father) and then succeeding to the throne and marrying Gertrude(the King Hamlet's widow and mother of Prince Hamlet). The play vividly portrays real and feigned madness – from overwhelming grief to seething rage – and explores themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption.
Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play and among the most powerful and influential tragedies in the English language. It has a story capable of "seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others." During Shakespeare's lifetime, the play was one of his most popular works and it still ranks high among his most-performed.
Characters
    * Hamlet–Son of the former king, and nephew of the present King   * Claudius-Prince of Denmark   * Gertrude–Queen of Denmark, and mother to Hamlet   * Polonius–Lord Chamberlain   * Ophelia–Daughter to Polonius   * Horatio–Friend to Hamlet   * Laertes–Son to Polonius   * Voltimand, Cornelius–Courtiers   * Rosencrantz,Guildstern–Courtiers, friends to Hamlet |     * Osric–a Courtier   * Marcellus–an Officer   * Bernardo–an Officer   * Francisco–a Soldier   * Reynaldo–Servant to Polonius   * Ghost   of Hamlet’s father   * Fortinbras–Prince of Norway   * Gravediggers–A sexton and a clown   * Player King, Player Queen, Lucianus, etc.–Players |
Outline story of the Play
Hamlet: The Murder of his Father
        Hamlet is one of the most powerful tragedies of the world .It is the story of Hamlet, Prince of   Denmark, who hurries from his studies at the university of Wittenberg to Elsinore, capital of Denmark ,on hearing the news of his father’s death.His sorrow and perplexity is deepened by   his...